Self-sealing container



Dec. 31, 1963 A. GREENE ETAL 3,116,008

SELF-SEALING CONTAINER Filed April 8, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F|G.l 122A123A 124A 124A 123A FIG. 2 23A 24A 122A /24A/124A' I 23B 1245 1228 24124B FIG.3

122A" f 125A INVENTORS Abbof Greene Paul Densen ATTORNEY 1366- 1963 A.GREENE ETAL SELF-SEALING CONTAINER Filed April 8, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2FIG. 3A

INVENTORS Abbot G reene Paul Densen ATTORNEY United States Patent OfficePatented Dec. 31, 1%63 3,116,008 SELF-SEALING QQNTAEPER A'ohot Greene,24 Carter Road, and llanl Benson, 27 Qolony Drive E, both of WestGrange, NJ. Filed Apr. a, rats, Ser. No. arises lairns. ((Cl. 229-45 This invention relates in general to a self-sealing container, and morespecifically to a quadrilateral collapsible type, self-sealing containerwhich is constructed and arranged so as to prevent portions of the samecontainer or a stack of similary constructed collapsible containers fromsticking together.

(Ionsiderable efforts have been expended in the past in an attempt tomake a container, preferably of corrugated or solid fiber type carboard,paperboard or the like, which can be secured or rendered self-sealingwith a pressure sensitive adhesive, and which when in the collapsedstate will not adhere to itself or to other similarly constructedcontainers when stacked. l-leretofore, most eiforts have been directedto modifying or altering the general shape of the known container blanksto solve the dilemma in the art. However, this type of solutiondetracted from the use of the standard blank construction which is themost economical to manufacture and use, and for these reasons the mostwidely favored by the various users thereof. Such containers aregenerally referred to in the art as a regular slotted container.

The regular slotted container is generally formed from a single blank ofsheet material die cut and scored so as to define opposed side and endpanels which when folded define a closed quadrilateral figure that maybe either square or rectangular in cross section. Foldably connected tothe upper and lower edges of the respective side and end panels is aflap. The respective flaps may be constructed so that when folded one orboth pairs of opposed flaps may have their free ends disposed insubstantially abutting relationship. Thus, the respective flapsgenerally do not exceed more than one half the length of the side or endpanel disposed adjacent the wall to which the respective flap is hinged.

Such containers are generally shipped to the user in their collapsedstate with several similar constructed containers stacked one on theother. In rectangularly shaped containers, is. one in which the sidesare longer than the ends thereof, the end portions of the opposed sidepanel flaps overlap in the collapsed position of the carton. For thisreason self-sealing containers tended to stick together when collapsed,or when stacked on one another, as in the shipment of the same when incollapsed position. US. Patent No. 2,874,891 discloses an effort toovercome this sticking problem with self-sealing con ainers. However,the patented disclosure had had the disadvantage that substantialportions of the marginal edges of the respective flaps were not securelyfastened. This was necessitated by the specific manner in which theflaps had to be coated in order to avoid the flaps from sticking in thecollapsed state. For this reason the flaps could be easily oraccidentally pried loose, and thereby adversely affected the use andstrength of such containers. In accordance with this invention it hasbeen discovered that the flaps can be more firmly secured if more of thedistance along the outer marginal edge portions of the flaps can besecured or held fast to the underlying end flaps. Since the area of thecoated and uncoated portions of the overlapped portions of the opposedside panel flaps, when in a collapsed position of a container, is fixedfor a given size container the problem to be solved was how to increasethe linear marginal portions of such overlapped flap areas which couldbe bonded so as to enhance the adesive holding quality of the flaps,while at the same time prohibiting the opposed coated portions of theoverlapped end portions of the flaps from interfering or sticking to oneanother.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide an improved regularslotted container in which its strength and versatility is enhanced byincreasing the linear marginal portions of the overlapping flap areasthat can be made fast to the underlying end panels in the erectedposition of the container.

Another object is to provide for maximum linear adesion along themarginal edge portions of the respective flaps without increasing thetotal coated area of the overcpping portions, or causing portions of thecontainer to sticl; to itself in either its collapsed or stackedcondition.

Another object is to provide an improved self-sealing slotted containerthat is relatively simple in construction, positive in operation andrelatively inexpensive to fabricate.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision wherein theoverlapped end portions of the fiaps when in the collapsed state haveopposed coated and uncoated portions which are delineated by a diagonalline so that a maximum amount of outer linear marginal edge portions ofth respective overlapping flap portions can be made fast.

ther features and advantages will become more readily apparent whenconsidered in view of the drawings and description in which:

l is an expanded inside view of the blank from wh h a slotted containeris formed.

2 illustrates the container in its collapsed positic-n.

Pl. 3 position.

PEG. 3A is another view of the erected container to better illustratethe coated p rtion of the flaps in accordance with this invention.

4 is a top view of the container illustrating the flaps in the closedposition.

HG. 5 illustrates two similarly constructed collapsed containersarranged to show how they stack.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 the blank 29 fromwhich a container 21 is formed in accordance with this invention. Theblank Ed is die cast and scored to define front panel 22, a left endpanel 23 hingedly connected thereto along fold line F a back or rearpanel 24* connected along fold line F to the left end panel 25, and aright end panel 25 connected to the back wall 24 along fold line F Theupper and lower edge portion of the respective front, end and rearpanels 22 to 25 respectively, have hingedly connected thereto a fiapwhich in the erected position of the container is folded to define thetop 26 and bottom 27 of the container. As shown, flaps 22A and 22B areconnected to the opposed edges of front panel 221, flaps L SA, arehingediy connected to the end panel 23, flaps Z lB are connected to theback panel 24 and flaps 25A and 25B are connected to the other end panelZ5. in the illustrated embodiment the Width of each flap is madesubstantially the same. Generically, however, the width of the respective flaps do not exceed more than one half the length of the side orend panels adjacent the panel to which the hop is connected. Forexample, as shown in Fl-G. 4, the flaps 22A, 22B and 24A, connected tothe respective front and back panels 22 and 2- do not exceed more thanhalf the width of the end walls 23, Thus in the folded and erectedposition of the container 2d the flaps 22A, 241 and 223, 24-3 definingthe top 26 and bottom 27 have their free edges disposed in substantiallyabutting or contiguous relationship, as best seen in H6. 4, andoverlying the adjacent end flaps.

illustrates the container in its partially erected In the collapsedposition the blank is folded so that the front and right end panel 22,respectively overlie the left end and back panels 23, as do therespective flaps connected thereto. A strip of tape or other suitablefastening means secures the free edge of the front panel 22 to the freeedge of th right end panel 25 to define the closed quadrilateral figureof the container when it is erected as seen in FIG. 3.

Referring in particular to PEG. 2 it will be noted that diagonallydisposed end portions of the flaps 22A, 22B and 24A, 24B overlap in thecollapsed pos .on. For this reason, the instant invention contemplates aunique disposition of a pressure sensitive adhesive coating to theoverlying portions of the respective side flaps so as to enhance thestrength of the container, as will be hereinafter described.

in order to render the container 21 of this invention self-sealing, eachor" the respective flaps 22B; 25A, 233; 2 1A, 243; and 25A, and haveportions thereof coated with a layer of pressure se sitive adhesive ofany Well-known brand. As shown in EMS. l, 3, 3A, the outside surtaces ofthe end flaps 23A, 23B; 25A, are preferably coated over the entire areathereof with a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive 123A, B; 125A,

1253, while the opposed end portions of the front and rear panel flaps22A, 22B; 24A, are coated with a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive122A, 122A; 122B, FEB; 124A, 124A; 1248, 1243'. It will be understoodthat the adhesive applied to each of the side and end flaps is of thesame type so that the respective panels will adhere to one another whenthe coated areas are placed in face to face contact. it is to be notedthat the respective pressure sensitive coatings 122A, 122A; 1251B, 1223'and 124A, 124A; 124-2, 1243 applied to the end portions of therespective side panel flaps 22A, 22B, 24A, 24B, are disposed on one sideof the blank whereas the coating 123A, 1233; 125A, 1253 applied to theend flaps 23A, 233; 25A, 25B are disposed on the opposite side of. theblank 29.

In slotted type rectangular containers it has been observed that as therectangular shape of the container approaches that of a square, theamount of overlap in the side panels is progressively decreased. Forthis reason the adhesive coating which can be applied on the end or nearthe end portions of the side panel flaps winch overlap, is seriouslyrestricted. This is readily apparent in FIG. 2 where it will be notedthat as the end panels are increased in Width, the amount of theoverlapping portion of the side panel flaps is diminished. As a resultthe amount of area that can be coated with the adhesive is limited, andconsequently the bonding force made possible by the overlapped endportions so limited, when the container is erected, is seriouslyaffected. "is us the strength of the container is progressively reducedas the size of a rectangular container approaches that of a square, butnot a square.

In accordance with this invention a novel arrangernent is providedcoating the overlapped end portions of the opposed side panel flaps sothat self-sealing containers, not a square but approaching a square, canbe substantially strengthened, rather than weakened.

This is attained by applying the respective overlapped portions of theside panel iiaps 22A, 223; 24A, 24 3 with an adhesive coating whichcovers substantially one half the overlapped area and which half area isdefined by a diagonal line 1);, D extending between diametricallydisposed corner portions of the overlapping end portions. Accordingl,the overlapped portion of the respective side panel ilaps each have onediametric half of the overlapped area coated whereas the other diametrichalf is unccated, the arrangement being such that the coatedsubstantially diametric half portion of one ilap faces the uncoateddiametric half portion of the opposite fiap. With the arrangementdescribed, the facin. overlapped portions of the respective flaps areprevented from sticking in the collapsed position of the container.

In accordance with this invention, by coating the res; ectiveoverlappin" portions of the respective p s of side -cl flaps, eg. 22A,and 22B, into opposed metrical coated and uncoated areas, it will benoted that the adhesive coating of the respective overlapped areas willtraverse a greater linear distance along the circumference or the freeouter edges of the respective flaps than if adhesive were applied instrips or hands wherein the edge of the coated strip or band wereparallel with the free edge of the respective side panel For example itwill be noted in FIG. 3, 3A and 4 that the coated portions 122A, 322A,iii 4A of the llaps 22, and defining the top panel in the erectedposition of the container, are securely fastened or bonded to the endflaps 2.3, along their entire outer marginal edges which overi endpanels. in other Words the outer marginal f the side panel flaps at thecoated corner portZZA, 122A, 124A that overlie the end panels -esecurely adhered thereto. Thus, the end corner ily or accidentally priedloose. have at least one full outer marginal portion thereof secured toits ad acent end flap. The same conditions above described apply to theflaps 22B, 23B, 2MB and 253 which define the bottom 27 of the container21 in its folded and erected position.

While corner portions 122A, 1223, and 124A, 1243' are shown coated overa diametrical area, it will be appreciated that these specific cornersare not the critical corner areas, and therefore the specific pattern inWhici "these corners are coated can be varied. That is, these cornersmay be coated with a band in which the edge of the band is parallel tothe free or outer edge of the re spective flaps. However, the samecannot apply to the ends or corners 122A, 124A or 1228, 124B in theoverlapped portion of the side flaps 22A, 24A or 22B, 243 as theseoverlapped areas are deemed the critical area.

FIG. 5 illustrates how two collapsed containers 21A, 213 may be stackedand not stick to one another. it will be noted that the containers 21A,26.3 are stacked front to back. Thus the uncoatcd outer surface of theside panel flaps 2 2A, 24 8 of container 21A will engage the outercoated surfaces 125A, 125B of the preceding container 213 in the stackedposition.

Therefore so long as the exposed coated portions of container 21A do notmake contact with the coded portions of container 218, the respectivecontainers can be readily stacked.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that the instantconstruction has particular application in those standard sized slottedtype containers which approach a square but not a square, i.e. one inwhich the side ands are proportioned so that overlap wed portions or"the respective side panel liaps define a substantially square area. Thisrelatively shaped container is one of the most popular in use today, andtherefore it is highly desirable that such self-sealing container bemade as strong as its physical limitations will permit. With the instantinvention, the vers lity and strength of such containers is enhanced andincreased over that of any known construction for the given sizecontainers with which this invention niost applicable.

While the instant invention has been disclosed with reference to aparticular embodiment thereof, it is to be appreciated that theinvention is not to be taken limited to all of the details thereof amodifications and variations thereof may be made without departing fromthe spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A self-sealing container which is both collapsible .nd stackablecomprising opposed side and end panels iingedly connected together todefine a quadrilateral closed figmre, said side panels being longer thansaid end panels, closure flaps entending from and hingedly connected tothe edge of each of said side and end panels, said flaps beingsubstantially coextensive in length with respect to their connectedpanel, the flaps hingedly connected to said end panels having a width nogreater than one-half the length of said side panels, and the flapshingedly connected to said side panels having a width no greater thanone-half the length of said end panels, said flaps in the collapsedposition of the container being disposed in face to face contactingrelationship whereby the diagonally opposed end portions of the resective side panel flaps are disposed in overlapping relationship withone another in the collapsed position of said container, and a coatingof pressure sensitive adhesive applied to a surface portion of all ofsaid flaps, said end panel flaps having an outer surface portion coatedwith said adhesive, and said overlapping diagonally opposed end portionseach having an adhesive coated portion and an uncoated portion wherebythe coated and uncoated portion of one of said overlapping end portionscontact in face to face relationship the uncoated and coated portionsrespectively of said other of said overlapping end portions in thecollapsed position of said container, and said coated and uncoatedportion of the respective overlapped end portions being defined by adiagonal line extending from a corner defined by the longitudinal hingededge and the adjacent end edge of the respective overlapped end portionsof said side flaps to a point located on the other longitudinal edgeportion of the respective overlapping portion whereby said secondmentioned point is spaced from the respective end edge of the flap adistance not greater than the width of the adjacent end panel flap.

2. A se1f-sealing container which is both collapsible and stackablecomprising opposed side and end panels hingedly connected together todefine a quadrilateral closed figure, said side panels being longer thansaid end panels, closure flaps extending from and hingedly connected toboth the upper and lower opposed edges of each of said side and endpanels, said flaps being substantially co-extensive in length withrespect to their connected panel, the flaps hingedly connected to theopposed edges of said end panels having a width no greater than onehalfthe length of said side panels, and the flaps hingedly connected to theopposed edges of said side panels having a width no greater thanone-half the length of said end panels, said flaps in the collapsedposition of the container being disposed in face to face contactingrelationship whereby the diagonally disposed end portions of therespective side panel flaps are disposed in overlapping relationshipwith one another in the collapsed position of said container, and acoating of pressure sensitive adhesive applied to a surface portion ofall of said flaps, said end panel flaps having an outer surface portioncoated with said adhesive, and said overlapping diagonally opposed endportions each having an adhesive coated portion and an uncoated portionwhereby the coated and uncoated portion of one of said overlapping endportions contact face to face the uncoated and coated portionsrespectively of said other of said overlapping end portions in thecollapsed position of the container and said coated and uncoated portionof the respective overlapped end portions being defined by a diagonalline extending from a corner defined by the longitudinal hinged edgesand adjacent end edges of the respective overlapped end portions to apoint located on the other longitudinal edges of the respectiveoverlapping portions whereby said second mentioned point is spaced fromthe respective end edges of the flaps a distance not more than the widthof the respective adjacent end panel flaps.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein the respectivecorresponding diagonals of the overlapped portions of the respectiveupper and lower side flaps extend parallel to one another in the squaredposition of said container.

4. A self-sealing container which is both collapsible and stackablecomprising opposed side and end panels hingedly connected together todefine a quadrilateral closed figure, said side panels being longer thansaid end panels, closure flaps extending from and hingedly connected tothe edge of each of said side and end panels, said flaps beingsubstantially co-extensive in length with respect to their connectedpanels, the flaps hingedly con nected to said end panels having a widthno greater than one-half the length of said side panels, and the flapshingedly connected to said side panels having a width no greater thanone-half the length of said end panels, said flaps in the collapsedposition of the container being disposed in face to face contactingrelationship whereby diagonally disposed end portions of the opposedside panel flaps are disposed in overlapping contacting relationship,said respective overlapping end portions of the respective flapsdefining substantially a square area, and a coating of pressuresensitive adhesive covering a surface portion of each of said flaps,said end panel flaps having their outer surface portion coated with saidadhesive, and said overlapping portions of the respective side panelflaps having an adhesive coated portion and an uncoated portion wherebythe coated and uncoated portions of one of said overlapping end portionscontact in face to face relationship the uncoated and coated portionsrespectively of the other of said overlapping end portions, and thecoated and uncoated portions of the respective overlapping end portionsbeing defined by a diagonal line extending substantially between opposedcorner portions of the squared area of the respective overlapping endportions.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein the other end portion ofthe respective side flaps has a diagonal corner portion coated with alayer of pressure sensitive adhesive.

No references cited.

1. A SELF-SEALING CONTAINER WHICH IS BOTH COLLAPSIBLE AND STACKABLECOMPRISING OPPOSED SIDE AND END PANELS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TOGETHER TODEFINE A QUADRILATERAL CLOSED FIGURE, SAID SIDE PANELS BEING LONGER THANSAID END PANELS, CLOSURE FLAPS EXTENDING FROM AND HINGEDLY CONNECTED TOTHE EDGE OF EACH OF SAID SIDE AND END PANELS, SAID FLAPS BEINGSUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE IN LENGTH WITH RESPECT TO THEIR CONNECTEDPANEL, THE FLAPS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID END PANELS HAVING A WIDTH NOGREATER THAN ONE-HALF THE LENGTH OF SAID SIDE PANELS, AND THE FLAPSHINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID SIDE PANELS HAVING A WIDTH NO GREATER THANONE-HALF THE LENGTH OF SAID END PANELS, SAID FLAPS IN THE COLLAPSEDPOSITION OF THE CONTAINER BEING DISPOSED IN FACE TO FACE CONTACTINGRELATIONSHIP WHEREBY THE DIAGONALLY OPPOSED END PORTIONS OF THERESPECTIVE SIDE PANEL FLAPS ARE DISPOSED IN OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIPWITH ONE ANOTHER IN THE COLLAPSED POSITION OF SAID CONTAINER, AND ACOATING OF PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE APPLIED TO A SURFACE PORTION OFALL OF SAID FLAPS, SAID END PANEL FLAPS HAVING AN OUTER SURFACE PORTIONCOATED WITH SAID ADHESIVE, AND SAID OVERLAPPING DIAGONALLY OPPOSED ENDPORTIONS EACH HAVING AN ADHESIVE COATED PORTION AND AN UNCOATED PORTIONWHEREBY THE COATED AND UNCOATED PORTION OF ONE OF SAID OVERLAPPING ENDPORTIONS CONTACT IN FACE TO FACE RELATIONSHIP THE UNCOATED AND COATEDPORTIONS RESPECTIVELY OF SAID OTHER OF SAID OVERLAPPING END PORTIONS INTHE COLLAPSED POSITION OF SAID CONTAINER, AND SAID COATED AND UNCOATEDPORTION OF THE RESPECTIVE OVERLAPPED END PORTION BEING DEFINED BY ADIAGONAL LINE EXTENDING FORM A CORNER DEFINED BY THE LONGITUDINAL HINGEDEDGE AND THE ADJACENT END EDGE OF THE RESPECTIVE OVERLAPPED END PORTIONSOF SAID SIDE FLAPS TO A POINT LOCATED ON THE OTHER LONGITUDINAL EDGEPORTION OF THE RESPECTIVE OVERLAPPING PORTION WHEREBY SAID SECONDMENTIONED POINT IS SPACED FROM THE RESPECTIVE END EDGE OF THE FLAP ADISTANCE NOT GREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF THE ADJACENT END PANEL FLAP.